Most people find working homebased beneficial because it saves them time and money. It is also more comfortable and relaxing to work at home. But to help you become more productive, it’s also important to create a workspace that will inspire you to work better.
You might think that creating a great home office will cost you much but having an efficient and productive home office is more affordable than you might think. The secret is in proper planning and smart shopping. Here are some ways on how you can buy and spend smart for your home office.
Keep a List of Items You Need
If you know the things that are always needed in your home office, keep a list of them. You can also make a mental list of the supplies your running low on. From that mental notes, you can create a comprehensive shopping list. Once you have the list, you can watch some local office supply stores for items on sale. You can also checkout some online stores when they go on sale. Once you get organized with the things you need, you will be able to cut costs.
Buy Wholesale
Buying office supplies in bulk will help you save money. You can also join warehouse buying clubs. Ask for the wholesale price first and never pay for retail price without doing so. You might think that you won’t need that much supplies but buying them in bulk now means you don’t have to spend any more money later.
Keep a Pile of Scrap Paper
Reusing scrap paper will help you save money and the environment as well. If you print up a piece of paper you don’t need, don’t throw it away. Instead, drop it into a file for scrap paper. You can use them to jot down notes or they can be used as printing paper for non-important documents.
Shop the Sales
Always check out sales from your local stores and even online. When an item you regularly use, such as paper, goes on sale, purchase a larger inventory. This will allow you to get the sale price over an extended time period.
Buy Used Items or Furniture
You can find used furniture and other products in auctions, garage sales, second hand stores, or store closings. It does not matter if you home office desk is new or used. What’s important is its quality and construction. This will help you save a big amount of money compared to purchasing brand new ones.
Find Furniture with Dual Purpose
There are some equipment that can do double duty, like a bookshelf, as it can also hold other items aside from books. Having this kind of items will help you save money because only have to buy fewer pieces. Plus, it will help you save space in your home office as well.
Buy and Use Energy Efficient Products
If you’re purchasing appliances for your home office, aside from the price, you should also check how energy efficient they are. This is important because you’ll be paying your electricity bill from your own money. You can look for the Energy Star label on a certain product you want to buy. If that item has this label, it means that it is an energy-efficient and cost-saving product which is perfect for your home office.
Refill Your Own Ink and Toner Cartridges
Refilling your own printer cartridges can be a hassle, but it can save you money because inkjet refills and replacement toner cartridges can be expensive. To save you from the hassle, try to find a printer whose cartridges can be easily refilled. This will help you save lots of money in the long run.
Print in Black and White or in Draft Setting
If you’re printing a full-color website or document, choose to print it in black and white or in draft setting if it’s not for business-critical communications. This will help you conserve your ink and save money because color printing is three to four times more expensive.
Use Double-Sided Printing
If possible, try to use the double-sided printing option on your printer. This will help you double the capacity of your paper supply because printing on just one side of the paper can be very wasteful.
Negotiate When Buying Big Ticket Items Like a Computer
It’s important to be aware of the current value and average sale price for an item. You can also negotiate by asking, “Can you do better than that?”. Before purchasing an item, examine first your needs and not your wants especially when buying a computer. If you’re not going to use it that much, then buying a refurbished computer might help you save money.
Find Free Alternatives to Expensive Software
Computer software can be expensive but there are many alternative software which you can get for free. You just have to make sure that the free software can be used for business. It’s also important to check the reviews because these will give you an idea if it can serve your needs.
There’s no need for you to spend a lot of money to have an efficient and productive home office. Knowing how to shop and what to look for will help you spend less and it will allow you to spend more money in developing and improving your business.